Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-02-26
KIN u
Solomon S Mines.
BY II. RIDER HAGGAED.
BY II. RIDER nAGGAED.
CHAPTER *.
TWALA TIE KING,

TWALA THE KING.
1t will not be necessary for me to detail at
length the Incidents of our journey to Loo.
1t took two days travelling along Solomon's
Great Road which pursued its even course
right into the heart of kukuanaand. Suffice
it to say that as we went the country seemed
to grow richer and richer, and the kraals,
with their wide surrounding belts Of cultlYa-
ton, more and more numerous. They were
all built upon the same principles as the first
ones we had reached and were guarded by
ample gafrisonS Of troops. Indeed, III ku-
kuanaland, as irAong the Germans, the
ZuIus, and the Masa7, every able-bodied man
was a soldier, so that the Whole force or the
nation is available for IFS wars, offensive or
defensive As we travelled along we were
oyertaken by thousands of warriors hurrying
~ ~ LOO 70 e fIgsss az inc gIplt aHiitT6i
review and festival, and grander series OF
troops Ineyer saw. AT sunset on the second
day we stopped TO rest awhile upon the sum
nit of some heights over which the road ran,
md thera "a L beautiful and fertile plain be-
fore MS was 100 itself For a native town u
was an enormous place, quite i've miles
ronnd should say, with outlying kra1lS Jut-
ting ont from it, which serve on grand oecd-
sions as cantonments fer the regiments anil
\ curious holsesAoe-S !aped hlll, with which
we were destined to become better aequaint-
ed. about two miles to the north. II VAS
beautifully situated, and through the center
of the krual. dividing it into tive portions
ran river. which appeared 2 BE- br!dged at
several places, tie same perhaps that we had
seen from tie slopes Of Shcba,s Breasts.
Six+a or seventy miles away three great
snn~ canned mountains, place Ike the
no IS Of a triangle, started ZIP ont OF the
Ie~.t plain. The conformation Of these
mo dains was unlike that OF oheoa
Br~ SITS. being sheer and preciptous m
stead of smooth ami rounded
T-adoos saw us looking at them, and vol
uBteared a remark:
"The road ends there he said, pointing
10 Se mountains known among the hukua-
mas as the "Three Witches"
"Whv does it endg' | asked.
.sWho knowsg' lie answered with shrng;
"the mountains are full of caves, and there IS
great pt between them. 1t is there that
the wise men of old time used to 20 to get
whatever 1t was they came to this country
for. and IT is there now that our kings are
buried in the Place of Death"
"What was it they came for?' l asked,
eagerly.
SNay. I know not. Ny lords who come
from the stars should know" he answered
with a quick look. Evidently ne knew
more than he chose to say.
yes went on, you are right; IL the
stars we know many things. have heard,
for instance that the wise men OF Old came
to these mountains to get bright stones
pretty playthings, and yellow iron"
MY lord is wise," he answered coldly;
II am put child and cannot talk with my
lord on such things. Ny lord must speak
with Gagool the old, at the kings place,
who is wise even as my lore" and he turned
away.
AS SOC. as he was gone, l turned to the
others e1d pointed out the mountains
GThere x.fe Solomon's diamond mines"
said.
ITmbopa was standing with them, appar
emily plunged in one of the fits OF abstrac
tion which were common to him, and caugh
my words.
.sYes. Macumazahn," he put in, in Zulu
"the diamonds are surely there, and yoI
shalI have them, since you white men are 81
fond of toys and money"
"How do you know that, Umbopa%
asked sharply, for did not like his myster
ious ways
He laughed: 81 dream it in the night
white men," and then he too turned upol
his heel and went.
"Now what" said Sir Henry, 'is ou
black friend at? He knows more than h
chooses to say, that is clear. By the way
Ouatermain, has he heard anything of-o
my brother?'
.Nothing; he has asked every one he ma
cot friendly with, but they all declare
white man has ever been seen in the countr
before"
"Do you suppose he ever got here at alp
suggested Good; I'VE have only reached tn
place by miracle; is it likely he could haY
reached ii at all without the maDw